Everest: Beyond the Limit

Genres: Reality, Documentary Series, Docu-Reality

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SEASON 1

SEASON 2

Season 2

Everest: Beyond the Limit is an American docu-reality television series produced by Tigress Productions which documents yearly attempts to summit Mount Everest organised and led by New Zealander Russell Brice.

The series originally premiered in the USA on the Discovery Channel on 14 November, 2006. The second season premiered on 30 October, 2007. There are 14 episodes in two seasons to date.

Everest: Beyond the Limit premiered in South Africa on DStv's Discovery Channel on Saturday 7 April 2007, at 21h00. There were six episodes in the first season.

Everest 2: Beyond the Limit (the second season title) premiered on Discovery on Monday 14 April 2008, at 21h00. There are eight hour-long episodes in the season.

Season 2 Repeats

Sundays: 19h00

Season 2

Discovery Channel sends its most advanced high-altitude cameras once again to the world’s tallest mountain to document an epic climb where ambition overrides agony, exhaustion — and the chances of survival.

Everest 2: Beyond the Limit, the second season of Discovery Channel’s acclaimed series, documents the gruelling April/May 2007 summit attempt by an international group of climbers.

The 2007 climbing season was the busiest yet, as more climbers than ever before faced the extreme conditions on Everest in an attempt to fulfill a dream. Seven lost their lives, most did not reach the summit, and those who did will never be the same.

For Everest 2: Beyond the Limit, a 17-member production team followed an expedition of climbers and professional mountain guides, organized and led by New Zealander Russell Brice.

Throughout the eight-hour series, viewers go on a journey with the climbers, gaining a unique insight into the physical and mental strength needed to conquer Mount Everest.

High-resolution Sherpa-cams give viewers a unique insight into the dangers of the mountain and what climbers go through for the chance to briefly stand on top of the world.

Returning this year are asthmatic Iron-Man competitor Mogens Jensen from Denmark, who once again tries to summit without supplemental oxygen, and Hollywood motorcycle enthusiast Tim Medvetz, who had to be talked into turning back last year only 350 feet below summit.

Joining them are several climbers new to Everest: Beyond the Limit, including Katsusuke Yanagisawa of Japan who, at 71 years old, wants to become the oldest man ever to summit Everest; Monica Piris, from England and the team’s high altitude doctor; Betsy Huelskamp, a Los Angeles-based journalist who interviewed Medvetz after his failed 2006 attempt and was inspired to try the climb herself; David Tait, attempting a world-first double traverse to raise money for a charity close to his heart; and Phurba Tashi, Himalayan Experience’s most experienced Sherpa who accompanies Tait.

Other climbers include Rod Baber from England and California physician Fred Ziel.

Season 2 Episodes

Episode 1: Dream Chasers

Everest has killed more than 200 people, yet nothing will stop amateur climbers from risking their lives to conquer it.

Discovery Channel returns to Everest for another climbing season with legendary expedition leader Russell Brice and a new team of daring men and women.

High resolution cameras capture the action as the climbers and an elite team of Sherpas attempt an early summit. Back at camp, Russell realizes that he’ll have his work cut out for him in preparing this year’s team for the climb of their lives.

Meanwhile the climbers realise the true dangers that lie ahead when they witness two professional climbers fighting for their lives in the Death Zone.

Episode 2: On the Ropes

Russell Brice's team of amateur climbers faces their first big test. He's set a five hour deadline for them to climb 2000 feet to the first high camp, perched atop a punishing ice cliff.

The climbers set off for Camp One, but almost immediately, British climber Rod Baber is in trouble. He's struck by a crippling headache which could be the first warning sign of Acute Mountain Sickness or even cerebral edema - a swelling of the brain that can kill within minutes.

Los Angeles journalist Betsy Huelskamp is also struggling to make the deadline. Meanwhile, two climbers from Kazakhstan, who the team saw fighting for their lives in the Death Zone, are still missing.

Episode 3: Judgement Day

The team is at 24,500 feet - higher than anywhere outside the Himalayas - but the sun is beating down and it's incredibly hot. Even the fittest climbers are struggling with dehydration and exhaustion as they try to reach Camp Two.

Only one climber makes Russell's deadline and there are serious questions about who'll be allowed to try for the summit. Tim Medvetz is told by Russell to: "Get your shit together man", and ordered to stop being so arrogant.

Mogens, who is determined to summit without bottled oxygen, faces some hard truths when Russell tells him: "I don't think you can make it without oxygen."

Betsy Huelskamp's summit dreams are left hanging by a thread after Russell's guides turn her around just below the Death Zone.

Episode 4: World Record

The training and the acclimatization climbs are over. The expedition leaves Base Camp heading for the summit, as the death toll for this year’s climbing season continues to grow.

High above the rest of the team, David Tait and Phurba Tashi are within hours of the summit, but even if they make it, they're only a quarter of the way through their extraordinary world record, double traverse attempt.

Neither of them has ever been on the south side of Everest, where they will fall into the shadow of the mountain – radio silence – and be on their own.

Episode 5: Long Way Down

Word comes from the south side that the two team members attempting a double traverse, David Tait and Phurba Tashi, have been spotted making their way down toward the highest camp and relative safety. But their world record attempt may be over.

Russell Brice gives a pre-summit pep talk to the team, and reiterates how dangerous the climb will be and how he won't tolerate anyone disobeying his orders.

As Team One sets off for the summit, Tim Medvetz is last out of camp and taking his time on the first leg to Camp One. When Tim eventually arrives there, Russell threatens to throw him off the team.

Episode 6: The Death Zone

Team One fights their way to Camp 4 inside the Death Zone at 27,500 feet, where their bodies are slowly dying from lack of oxygen. As they arrive they're met with the sight of a dead climber lying in the snow.

Meanwhile, as Team Two gets ready to leave Advance Base Camp, an Irish mountaineer with excruciatingly painful snow blindness is brought to see expedition doctor Monica Piris.

Asthmatic Mogens Jensen has made it to Camp 2, but suffers a bad asthma attack during the climb. He must determine whether or not he’ll continue his pursuit of a summit without supplemental oxygen.

Episode 7: Breaking Point

Five miles high in the Death Zone, Team One sets off for the summit at midnight in minus 30 degrees. Before the sun rises, Tim Medvetz falls and snaps two bones in his left hand.

Any accident in the Death Zone is potentially fatal, but Tim has decided not to radio expedition leader Russell Brice because he knows he'll be ordered to turn around.

He's now gambling with his life - hoping he can make it up and down with only one good hand.

British climber Rod Baber is hoping to make the world’s first mobile phone call from the summit, while Californian doctor Fred Ziel continues to forge ahead.

Episode 8: Now or Never

Conditions are uncharacteristically perfect as Team Two attempts early morning summits. Asthmatic Mogens Jensen and 71-year-old Katsusuke Yanagisawa ascend toward the summit.

Even for those who do make it to the highest point on Earth, it's not over yet; 80 percent of deaths happen on the descent, and dangers lurk ahead.

Tim Medvetz is still struggling with his badly broken hand, which is so swollen he can't remove his glove.

An anchor for the safety ropes gives way, leaving Mogens dangling perilously over an 8,000 foot drop.